The Eye of Shiva by Alex Lukeman

Americans will discover that Pakistan is behind the attack."
    "Excellent," Rao said. "I imagine they will be very angry at their Paki allies." He paused for a moment. "How do you feel about the bombing of our embassy?"
    In his office on Lodhi Road, Rao couldn't see Khanna shrug.
    "Sacrifice is sometimes necessary ," Khanna said. "The ambassador here was useless, an appeaser like the Prime Minister. Perhaps it will serve as a wake-up call to those idiots in New Delhi."
    It was what Rao wanted to hear. "I doubt that anything will change the way our Prime Minister and his cabinet think."
    "If your plan works it won't matter what he thinks," Khanna said. "He'll be forced to take a hard line with Islamabad and Washington will have to get involved. My only concern is that the Americans have a habit of creating problems once the door has been opened for them."
    "Mother India is not Afghanistan or Iraq," Rao said. " We will use them against Pakistan. They will never suspect we have manipulated them."
    "What do you think they 'll do?"
    " Who knows? An attack on their embassy by terrorists is one thing. If they believe Pakistan is to blame, it's another. It will be seen as betrayal, an act of war. They cannot let it pass. Whatever they do, it will make trouble for the Pakis and opportunities for us."
    "What are your instructions?" Khanna asked.
    "Keep monitoring events. Try to find out what the Americans and Filipinos are doing, the things we won't see on television."
    "Understood."
    Rao ended the conversation and set his phone down. Then he picked up the phone again and called Krivi.
    "Yes."
    "It's Rao," he said.
    "My brother," Krivi answered.
    Rao felt a glow of satisfaction, even pride. He had an important role to play in the future of India. The best part was that Krivi's group would help him achieve his revenge.
    "Are you aware of what's happening in Manila?" Rao asked.
    "I am. "
    " The Americans will soon discover evidence that Islamabad planned the attack. So far there's no reason for them to suspect Pakistan's involvement. That will change once their NSA focuses on the terrorist communications. They'll find a trail that leads straight to Islamabad."
    "You seem confident."
    "This kind of operation is familiar to me. The technology makes it easy."
    Because of Rao, the world was already one step closer to war. Krivi was pleased that he'd judged Rao correctly. 
    "How can I help?" Krivi said.
    "It would be good if demonstrations here in India begin to grow. Even better if they get out of hand. I can't use my own agents for that, it would be discovered."
    "I'll see what I can do."
     

     
    CHAPTER 19
     
     
    Harker's voice sounded calm as she talked to Nick , as though it was just another day at the office. As if terrorist attacks and sending in the Marines were every day events. In Elizabeth's world, that wasn't far from the truth.
    "There'll be Marines on site soon," she said. "They know the embassy detachment is dead and they're going to be pissed. If they go in, they could make a mistake. Be advised."
    "Thanks for the encouragement," Nick said.
    Nick stood with the others in front of the building Steph had identified as the one with the entrance to the old tunnel under the embassy. A faded sign announced that it was the Chinese Friendship Society Community Center. The door was locked. There was no one around. Everyone in the area had taken off for safer parts of town.
    Nick tried the door again. It was still locked.
    "Screw this," he said. "Stand back." He fired two rounds and the frame around the lock splintered. He pushed the door open and they stepped inside. Nick closed the door behind them.
    Dust motes floated through beams of yellow sunlight filtering through the windows of a large, open space used for dances and meetings. One wall bore a series of faded travel posters for China and the Philippines. On another wall a cork bulletin board posted business cards and notices. They walked through the room and into a kitchen on